Repentance (Part 1)
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000
Repentance (Part 1)
Matthew 3:1, 2, "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the
wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand." This was what he preached to prepare the way for the Messiah, Jesus
Christ.
Matthew 4:17, "Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand." Jesus began His ministry with this essential truth. If
people are going to become apart of His kingdom, they must repent.
Mark 6:12, "And they went out, and preached that men should repent." This
was spoken of the twelve apostles, when Jesus sent them out two by two.
Acting as Christ's representatives, they preached His message of repentance.
Then after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, Peter preached on
the Day of Pentecost, after being baptized with the Holy Ghost. Many under
conviction asked him what they should do, and he responded, "Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins..." (Acts 2:38). The very SAME message of repentance was STILL
absolutely necessary for the 3,000 who were added to the number of Christ's
followers on that great day.
Years later, when the apostle Paul arrived at Athens Greece, he preached
repentance to those educated men with these words: "And the times of this
ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:"
(Acts 17:30).
The word used for repent in the above Scriptures is explained in Vine's
Dictionary as follows:
"metanoeo, Literally, 'to perceive afterwards' (meta, 'after,' implying
'change,' noeo, 'to perceive'; nous, 'the mind, the seat of moral
reflection'), ... hence signifies 'to change one's mind or purpose,' always,
in the NT, involving a change for the better, an amendment, and always,
except in Luke 17:3, 4, of 'repentance' from sin."
A word for "repentance" which comes from metanoeo is metaoia, which
means "compunction (for guilt, including reformation)"(Strong's Greek
Dict.). "In the NT the subject chiefly has reference to 'repentance' from
sin,
and this change of mind involves both a turning from sin and a turning to
God.
The parable of the Prodigal Son is an outstanding illustration of this."
(Vine's
again).
Now let's apply this a little without getting all hung up on technical
or theological terms.
If a person really repents of sin as the Bible teaches, he will have
changed his mind, heart, and will concerning his sins and all sin. He will
be AGAINST sin. He will have a personal reformation, which means he
will change his behavior, or amend his ways, to reflect the reality of his
repentance.
I am greatly concerned about many who profess to receive Christ in the
so-called "great revival" that is sweeping the USA. The fact is that the
majority of these people do not show any real change in their lives
concerning the sin issue. If the thousands, even millions, of converts we
hear about in the USA were true converts, I am sure that we would see
thousands, even millions, of people bringing forth the "fruits meet",
suitable, or befitting "for repentance".
There would be a lot less SINNING if there were a whole lot more
Biblical repentance.
Those who truly repent will truly be CONVERTED, changed, or transformed,
when they trust Christ for their salvation from sin.
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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